1. West Georgia RESA Presentation March 24, 2016
Georgia Professional Standards Commission
West Georgia RESA Presentation March 24, 2016
Georgia Professional Standards Commission

2. What is Ethics?

3. Ethics Knowledge-codes, rules, knowing right from wrong
Conduct-behavior that aligns with knowledge
Ethics-courage to execute in the midst of pressure
Doing what is right when no one is looking

4. Questions Complete the following sentences with an elbow partner….
The most ethical person I know is…..
This person is ethical because…

5. Rachel Spates

6. 3 Main Duties of Educators
Teach the Children
Protect the Students
Conduct Themselves Professionally and Ethically

7. TKEs/LKEs

8. What the Evaluators of Teachers are Required to Do:
Conduct Orientation
Analyze results of teachers’ Self-Assessments as required Pre-Evaluation Conference
Conduct 4 Walk-throughs/2 Formative Observations
Engage all teachers in Mid-year Conference discussing Student Growth data and TAPS Standards
9/19/2018

9. Evaluators of Teachers
Certify the SLO Pre- and Post-Assessments were administered according to LEA’s “window”
Ensure Roster Verification process is completed in November and April by all teachers
Administer Surveys of Instructional Practice to students utilizing results in Summative Assessment ratings
Complete 1 Summative Assessment
Conduct Individual Summative Assessment Conferences
Complete 2 Formative Assessments utilizing results of the Walk-throughs, Formative Observations, and requested Documentation from teachers
9/19/2018

10. What the Evaluators of Leaders are Required to Do:
Conduct Orientation
Analyze results of leaders’ Self-Assessments which are discussed in required Pre-Evaluation Conference
Finalize 2 Performance Goals in Pre-Evaluation Conference and outline documentation that must be submitted before Formative Assessment
Complete Formative Assessment on each leader
Engage all leaders in Mid-year Conference discussing results of Formative Assessment
9/19/2018

11. Evaluators of Leaders
Continue collecting documentation to be utilized in rating LAPS standards for Summative Assessment
Administer Climate Surveys to certified/classified staff utilizing results in Summative Assessment ratings
Complete 1 Summative Assessment
Conduct individual Summative Assessment Conferences
9/19/2018

12. Student Learning Objectives (SLOs)
New Territory for GaPSC
Our Focus is on mandated Standardized State Testing
Report Only Major Violations of SLOs Testing
Cite What School System Has Done

13. Abandonment of Contract

14. PSC Guidelines Submit resignation before June 1
After June 1 for illness in family which requires educator to provide care, for spousal transfer which requires unreasonable commute, or promotion within the field of education

15. Abandonment Questions
Why do some school systems release educator from contract and others file complaint with the PSC?
Does payment of liquidated damages fee constitute a release?
Is it okay to release weak teachers but require good teachers to honor the contract?
Does area of certification matter?

16. Abandonment Questions (cont’d)
Should a school system be consistent or consider each case individually?
Should a school system offer a contract to an educator who is under contract with another system?
Does it make a difference if the educator sought the position rather than being recruited?

17. Standard #8
School Systems are encouraged to handle employment issues locally
Liquidated damages assessment complicates abandonment
Look at effect on students
GaPSC looks at date letter of resignation was sent, reason for resignation (sickness, promotion, or commute issues)
Action School System has taken

18. Statistics from one Metro Atlanta School System
Year
# of individuals walking away from their employment agreement after June 1
FY14
554
FY15
609

19. Year Denied Revoked Voluntary Total SurrenderFY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY

20. Sanctions-February, 2015-February, 2016
Legal compliance - 41
Conduct with Students - 63
Alcohol and Drugs - 20
Honesty - 57
Public Funds and Property - 9
Remunerative Conduct - 3
Confidential Information - 1

21. Sanctions Abandonment of Contract - 6 Required Reports - 16
Professional Conduct - 37
Testing - 15
Total - 268

22. RESA Totals FY 2015 FY 2014 CSRA - 31 Chattahoochee - 30
Coastal Plains - 34
First District - 70
Griffin - 59
Heart of Georgia - 6
Metro - 289
Middle Georgia - 45
North Georgia - 34
CSRA - 72
Chattahoochee - 30
Coastal Plains - 31
First District - 124
Griffin - 53
Heart of Georgia - 12
Metro - 317
Middle Georgia - 51
North Georgia - 28

23. RESA Totals FY 2015 FY 2014 NE Georgia - 29 NW Georgia - 36
Oconee - 12
Okefenokee - 14
Pioneer - 16
SW Georgia - 30
West Georgia - 26
RESA Avg - 48
RESA Total - 761
NE Georgia - 64
NW Georgia - 53
Oconee - 10
Okefenokee - 10
Pioneer - 34
SW Georgia - 45
West Georgia - 18
RESA Avg - 60
RESA Total - 955

24. Open Cases by RESA -Teachers Listed on CPI Report
2015
2015
CSRA
Chattahoochee
Coastal Plains
First District
Griffin
Heart of Ga
Metro
Middle Ga
North Ga
NE Ga
NW Ga
Oconee
Okefenokee
Pioneer
SW Ga
W. Ga
Avg

26. West Georgia RESA FY 2015 FY 2014 Carroll County-3 Carrollton City-4
Coweta County-4
Harris County-2
Heard County-1
Meriwether County-4
Troup County-8
Total-26
RESAs avg-48
Carroll County-0
Carrollton City-4
Coweta County-2
Harris County-1
Heard County-0
Meriwether County-7
Troup County-4
Total-18
RESAs avg-60

27. Who Are the Guilty Educators?
Popular teachers
Paraprofessionals
CTAE, Coaches, Fine arts
Teachers of Students with Disabilities
34 % are initiated by Female teachers
53% of reported cases are in grades K-8

28. Are Principals at Fault?
Encouraging relationships with students without providing the “how”
Awarding and Recognizing Teachers who get Involved in the Lives of their Students
Not providing Expectations and Training for Teachers when Supervising Students

29. Errors Made By Administrators
Failure to Investigate Rumors
Sloppy Investigation
Failure to Report Within 24 Hours
Too Trusting
Failure to follow requirements of TKEs
Failure to Train
Failure to Establish Culture of Ethical and Professional Behavior
Sending Mixed Messages

30. Scenario One
Spanish teacher plans a trip to Spain during the summer for her students and other interested students to experience a different culture and practice speaking the language
Is it a school sponsored trip or a independent trip?

31. Scenario One (continued)
Is it ethical for the teacher to receive a free trip from the travel agency by generating 10 paid travelers?
If more students attend, and another chaperone is added, should the chaperone go for free?
What if the additional chaperone is the principal’s wife …or another foreign language teacher at the school?

32. Scenario One (cont’d) What is the discipline code for the trip?
What if the teacher holds meetings with the parents and students on school grounds?
Does it make a difference if students from another school participate in the trip?
What if travel agent messed up and when they arrive in Spain, there is no hotel available and no transportation from the airport?

33. New Issue

34. Clearance Certificates
Don’t get cute with titles
If they are around students, get clearance certificates for them if they do not qualify for a paraprofessional certificate
Exemptions-Custodians, Bus Drivers, and Food Service Workers excluding Director

35. Resources Ethics Division
Carl Vinson Institute of Government-Russ Cook
Pro-Ethica-Educational Testing Services
FBI-Atlanta Office-Britt Johnson
Pioneer RESA-Ethics Course #1397
Georgia Center for Child Advocacy

36. Interesting Slide

37. Interesting Non-relevant Information

38. Contact Information
Paul A. Shaw, Director Ethics Division Phone: (404)

39. Georgia Professional Standards Commission39